Chapter 46 - Don’t teach her

HADRIAN

I dry my body and dress in some casual trousers and a thin fine-knit navy sweater. Then I join Emma for breakfast in the parlor. I rarely take time to sit at the table to eat breakfast. This is usually just a room where I walk through for the bedroom or on the other side, my office.

The parlor has the same three floor-to-ceiling windows as the bedroom and my office. Before the window stands a dark smoked glass dining table in the same style as the rest of the rooms.

Emma is sitting at the table and eyeing all the different dishes. It is way too much for two people. This is also the reason I rarely eat at the table. Being alone with that much food just seems ridiculous and it’s lonely if I’m being honest.

Her eyes flit my way and quickly cast back to her plate. A flush starts at her cheeks and I wonder what thoughts go on in her head. I wonder if she is remembering our moment on the bed.

I take a seat opposite to her. Emma is sitting in front of the windows. The gardens and the forest in the distance form a beautiful background. The morning sun lights up her features and warms up the color of her hair. It almost looks blonde under the warm glow of sunlight. I could get used to sitting here every morning.

“Those are the pies. If you rather eat it completely, that is also fine.” She says in a rambling voice.

The pies are not large, maybe three inches in diameter. I get how she could easily eat one alone. I could eat all three without a problem.

“I promised I’d share with you.” I rest my elbows on the table and fold my hands over each other.

Emma blinks and for a second moves them to me before picking up some fruit.

The door opens and Paulina comes in with a basket of freshly baked bread. She places them on the table and bows to me. “Have you decided where you want to go today, Emma?” Her voice is timid.

The maid is almost the same height as Emma. Which is very small for a werewolf. She has no wolf and seems not one to forgo formalities. She appears demure with her narrow shoulders and her soft voice. I raise a questioning eyebrow at her and her eyes widen.

“Princess—“ She chokes out but is cut off.

“Don’t you dare.” Emma clamors. She points an accusing finger at me. “Don’t teach her.” Her eyes burn with that ferocity from earlier and it wakes up my barely-rested dick.

*Damn.*

She has these bursts of passion when things are important to her. I’ve witnessed it multiple times. It makes me fall hard for her and it wants me to have my way with her even more. I would like to see if she brings that ferocity to the bedroom.

I raise my hands in defense. “I didn’t mean to, I’m just surprised, that’s all.”

Paulina seems uncomfortable in the situation and busies herself with pouring orange juice into our empty glasses.

“Thank you, Paulina,” I say when she finishes pouring mine.

A blush appears on her cheeks when she backs away. “You’re welcome, Prince Hadrian.”

I notice the glare that Emma shoots at me. Her gray eyes blaze with intensity and fury.

*Is she jealous?*

*“Don’t,”* Nero says. Nero has been resting. He’s content and there is no danger around us. Though, he always keeps one eye on Emma.

“Will you call me Hadrian?” I ask Paulina.

She shoots an uncomfortable look from Emma to me. “If you insist, Hadrian.”

That fury intensifies and it has me rock-hard. Paulina leaves with a practiced bow and Emma is shooting daggers with her eyes. Maybe I am a little bit of a masochist.

“Was that necessary?” She drawls.

I shrug my shoulders. “Why not?"

“You’re the Crown Prince, people might question your authority.” She says as she crosses her arms.

“And you're a princess, sweetheart.” I lean my head on my folded hands and lean closer to her. “And nobody is questioning my authority.”

I hold her stare and she eventually blinks. She shakes her head, picks up her glass and takes a sip of orange juice. “You’re right, maybe it will help you get off that high horse.”

She stabs her fork into a piece of mango. I can’t help the laughter coming from me. It leaves an ache in my abdomen. I can’t remember the last time I laughed. She watches me with wide eyes. It makes me self-conscious and I cough away the outburst.

We’re both quiet for a second and I busy myself with dividing the pies in two. I place them one by one on her plate.

“I want to go to the city.” She says as bites into a piece of pie with caramelized root vegetables. “I want to bring Gaius some willow bark.”

I frown. “Gaius? As in my uncle Gaius?” I cut down a piece of the beef pie.

She nods as she chews down on her bite.

I haven’t seen my uncle since the night of the choosing ceremony. I yelled at him and called him weak for running away. Then I did exactly the thing I accused him of.

My uncle was once a general. He might have more information about the massacre of female werewolves with blue eyes.

“Fine, I’ll come with you.”

————————

I park the car in front of the little restaurant. It is not the place to park, but it’s the shortest walk for my mate. Emma carries a paper bag with willow bark. I tried to carry it for her, but she wouldn't let me.

I hide the fact that I’m sulking behind her. I want her attention, while I know that it is walking a dangerous line. At the same time, I’m telling myself that I will take more distance tomorrow.

Gaius spots us immediately from his spot at the table outside.

Emma hugs Gaius and I’m jealous of my uncle. She never hugs me, unless you count me pinning her against the wall and forcing her body against mine.

Emma furrows her brows. “You should get inside. It’s way too cold, it will only accelerate the pain.”

My mind is pulled to the present and I grind my teeth. “What pain?”

Gaius waves it away. “It’s nothing I can’t handle, Miss Emma.”

“*What* pain?” I growl.

Gaius turns to me with a smile. “It’s nothing to worry about. Just my aching joints.”

Werewolves are not immortal. Eventually, we’ll die. We can live long lives, but only if we’re lucky. I actually don’t know how old Gaius is. Over a hundred years? One twenty?

There is a sudden apprehension in my stomach. “You should listen to her, uncle.”

“I’ll make you some tea.” Emma offers.

I nod at her. I trust her judgment on this.

*“Tea is good, right?”* I ask my wolf.

*“How should I know?”* Nero counters.

Gaius gestures for me to sit down and I do as he says. The chair scrapes over the floor. There are a few people in the restaurant, mostly regulars. Their eyes flit to me or Emma every now and then.

There is a silence between us and I know the ball is in my court. *“I’m sorry for what I said last time,”* I say through a mind link to keep our conversation private.

*“It’s already forgiven, Prince Hadrian,”* Gaius says with a proud smile.

His formality reminds me of Emma insisting Paulina not to call her princess.

*“Why do you always call me Prince, not just Hadrian?”*

Gaius chuckles. *“To remind you, that you are the rightful heir, and when you become King, I’ll call you King Hadrian.”*

*King Hadrian.* It seems so unattainable.

*“Gaius is right, you need the reminder.”* Nero hums as if he’s come to his own realization.

Emma places a cup in front of Gaius and moves to another table to talk to one of the regulars like she has known them for years. Sometimes her adaptability and compassion surprise me. Werewolves are usually selfish creatures and we rely a lot on our wolves.

I watch as Gaius takes a sip of the tea and my guess is that it tastes horrid, judging from his grimace. I chuckle and it's the second time that Emma has found a way to make me laugh today.

The drink however does remind me why he’s drinking it.

*“Is that why you forfeited in the dual? The pain?”*

I’ve challenged my uncle to a dual for my own gain. A selfish move to gain a higher rank. One that is lower than the one I’ve been born with.

*What the hell have I even been fighting for?*

*“I’ve lived with pain for many years, but that wasn’t the reason. My position as General was not worth fighting with you.”* Gaius places a hand on my shoulder. *“You mean more to me than any ounce of status ever will.”*

I swallow the lump in my throat. We don’t talk about feelings. Talking about feelings is considered a weakness. Something to scoff at.

I turn the conversation into something I have more control over. *“Have you ever heard of Blue Monkswood?”*

Gaius hums. *“Vaguely.”*

I take a deep breath as I let the treasonous words travel through my mind. *“Do you know anything about my father ordering the kill of female wolves with blue eyes?”*

Gaius takes a large swig of his tea and grimaces. *“I can’t say that I have, but I’m not surprised.”*

*“Why?”*

*“Your father is a ruthless man. His quest to avenge his mate seems almost too noble to be true.”*

His words ring true even if I have a hard time swallowing them. My throat feels parched. I turn my gaze to Emma and notice that she hasn’t taken the time to get something to drink for herself.

I get up from my seat and move to the kitchen where Bacchus is preparing some dishes. I nod at him, get a glass from the cabinets and fill it up with chilled water from the fridge.

I place it in front of Emma on the table and she sends me a grateful smile. I lean down to kiss her head before moving back to my seat next to Gaius. Several eyes follow my movements including those of Gaius.

“What?”

His gaze is contemplative. “Your connection. It’s unusual.”

“She’s my mate,” I say with a shrug of my shoulders.

*“Chosen mate, there is a difference.”* He says through the mind link, like speaking it out loud is treason itself.

I can’t help but growl. Nero and I have agreed on the fact that there is no difference.

*“You’re defensive like she’s your fated mate, is she?”*

Gaius doesn’t let the subject go. He expects a real answer from me.

“No,” I grumble out loud. In terms of a true fated mate bond, there is none.

Gaius looks between me and Emma. “Are you sure?”

My shoulders are tense and I ball my fists. *“I would know if she was. I would’ve recognized her as my true mate.”* I won’t say the words out loud.

“Have you talked to Lela?” Gaius asks.

I sigh and I look at my beautiful, compassionate and strong-willed mate. “Yes, she confirmed it.”